But before you tackle any projects, establish how much time and money you are prepared to invest. Often times we want to repair something ourselves to save money, but many repair jobs are complicated and time consuming and without the proper tools and skills, it can become overwhelming and discouraging. For these types of projects, you may require the assistance of a professional.

Having owned three older houses over the past 20 years, I have done many home maintenance and repair projects myself. From the simple (but gross) job of eliminating a colony of ants from my kitchen cupboards to more complex jobs like installing subflooring and a toilet – it seems there is always something that needs to be done!

But finding the information needed to complete even simple home repairs hasn't always been easy to find. When I first started doing home repairs myself, I would head to my local public library and get stacks of books on the subject, do my research, ask questions of people who had done it before and then just do it.

I learned by reading, watching and doing and things haven't changed much. To complete home maintenance and repair jobs yourself, you mainly need confidence and a "can do" attitude (and of course helpful information like what you'll find here!)

After researching some repair projects I discovered there were many times where hiring a professional was the right thing for me to do, such as installing carpet. It's not that a do-it-yourselfer can't install carpet but you have to have the right tools and the skills to tackle the job and I do not!

My experiences as a homeowner and independent female are the inspiration for this site. My husband is mechanically inclined and skilled at home repair projects (a tradesman for over 25 years has helped immensely) but he wasn't always around. As a single woman for many years, I had to either figure things out on my own or pay to have it done. For the most part I figured it out and am very proud of my accomplishments (you'll hear more about my projects throughout the site).

My intention is for you to find reliable information about the repairs and maintenance that your home needs in one convenient location and from a uniquely feminine perspective.

Some of what you will find on this site:

• information on how to complete some typical home repair projects
• enough information about each repair project for you to make an informed decision as to whether you want to complete the project yourself or hire a professional
• reviews, pros and cons about a variety of home products
• routine maintenance that should be conducted in a home to avoid costly repairs
• A list of basic tools every homeowner should have

If you are hiring a home repair contractor or handyman, be sure to visit our handyman helper pages. From questions to ask a contractor to helpful advice on building contracts and home renovation insurance, we have an entire section to help you with the process.

If you have questions or comments or would like to see something in particular on this site, please use the comment form and send me a note. I hope the information you find on my site helps you fix it like a pro!

~ Della